WE GATHER TO WORSHIP

Greeting

One: The love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Kirsten Homdrom

All: And also with you.

One: Let us prepare for worship.

Preparation for Worship God of grace, you chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Savior. Now fill us with your grace, that with her, we

may rejoice in your salvation and, in all things, embrace your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of

the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Gathering Hymns

Christian Welcome and Announcements Gary Fulton Please pass the Friendship Register to your neighbor; include all requested information.

Children through fifth grade are invited to come forward for the lighting of the Advent wreath,

after which they may return to their seats for the rest of the service.

Call to Worship and Lighting of the Advent Candle

One: I am about to do a new thing, says the Lord.

All: God will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

One: O sing to the Lord a new song,

All: for God has done marvelous things. Isaiah 43:19; Psalm 98:1

(lighting of the Advent candle)

One: Let us pray.

All: Praise God, whose loving covenant supports those in distress,

remembering past promises with present faithfulness. Amen. Glory to God: Hymn 99, stanza 5

*Hymn 98 - To a Maid Whose Name Was Mary ANNUNCIATION stanzas 1-4

*Call to Confession

*Prayer of Confession

We confess in the name of Jesus that we are wary of endings. Our blessings are so many, and we resist their culmination.

The hope, peace, joy and love of Advent blessings have shaped our hearts and our faith. We have heard, “all good things

must come to an end,” and we would rather this not be true. So today, at the intersection of the end of Advent and the

coming of Christmas, we pray for your guidance. Help us, God. Keep our faith strong. Forgive our sin and prepare our

hearts to receive the unbridled light of Christmas in all its fullness and glory. In the name of Jesus, the child of Bethlehem

we pray. Amen.

*Declaration of Good News

*Passing of the Peace

*Gloria - Hymn 583 Taizé

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!

Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia!

WE PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

Epistle Lesson - Romans 16:25-27 pew Bible, p. 155

Anthem - Ancient Peoples Searched the Sky Sally Ann Morris (pub. 2014) Ancient peoples searched the sky, voicing our eternal “why?” Heaven answered with a sign: a star, proclaiming love divine. Sages journeyed

from the East bearing gifts for prince and priest. Seeking wisdom, starlight-stirred, they worshiped God’s incarnate word. Chasing starlight still

today, people dream, explore and pray. God is with us – given birth as starlight leads to love on earth.

Youth Choir; Kelly Gold, director; Lora Zinsmeister, accompanist

Gospel Lesson - Luke 1:26-38 pew Bible, p. 53

Sermon - End of Advent? Beginning of Faith? Either, or Both? Christopher Edmonston

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*Hymn 100 - My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer Robert Galloway

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory Anthem - Night of Silence arr. John Ferguson (b. 1941) Cold are the people, winter of life, we tremble in shadows this cold endless night, frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping, flowers that will echo the

sunrise, fire of hope is our only warmth, weary, its flame will be dying soon. Voice in the distance, call in the night, on wind you enfold us, you

speak of the light, gentle on the ear you whisper softly, rumors of a dawn so embracing, breathless love awaits darkened souls, soon will we know

of the morning. Spirit among us, shine like the star, your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar, shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely,

rising in the warmth of your Son’s love, star unknowing of night and day, Spirit we wait for your loving Son. Silent night, holy night! All is calm,

all is bright round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace.

Youth Choir

*Offertory Response Hymn 147 - verse 6 THE FIRST NOWELL

Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

that hath made heaven and earth of nought,

and with his blood our life hath bought.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

born is the King of Israel.

*All who are able may stand.

*Affirmation of Faith written by Nathan Nettleton; from the website re:Worship

We believe in God,

the creator and giver of life,

who brought all creation to birth,

who mothers us and fathers us,

protecting, nurturing and cherishing us.

We believe in Jesus Christ:

God born among us as a fragile baby,

embodying both love and the need for love,

and calling us to rest in God

as trustingly as a tiny child.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

breathed into us at our birth,

always drawing us on to be born again,

encouraging, exhorting, comforting,

nourishing our growth

and inspiring our living.

We believe in the reconciliation

of the world to God, through Christ.

Hunted at birth

and humiliated at death,

Christ entered our fearful darkness

so that we might enter his glorious light

and share the life of his resurrection.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*Hymn 113 - Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA

*Charge and Benediction The congregation is invited to be seated for the postlude during the season of Advent.

*Chiming of the Trinity

Postlude - Carillon on ANTIOCH Mary Beth Bennett (b. 1954) See Hymn 134.

***

Ushers: Don Munford, chair, Bruce Broadbelt, Laura Broadbelt, Steve Cadwallader, Carol Fogartie, Bonnie Elam.

Service Assistants: Barnes Mason.

Treasurer’s Assistants: Wesley Jones, Gary Pendleton.

Shuttle Driver: Morgan Grimes.

Advent Wreath Lighters: Youth Choir members.

The Advent Banner in the sanctuary is a gift of the Sanctuary Choir in honor of Brock Downward, Director of Music

Emeritus. It represents Hymn 348, Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending.

IN THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT

David Richard White, Sr. - December 18, 2017

1704 Oberlin Rd. Raleigh, NC 27608 p. 919.834.3424 whitememorial.org

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, December 24 (Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-33)

Advent IV

8:30 a.m. - Worship (Sanctuary)

9:00 a.m. - OnPoint House Band (Pickard)

9:30 a.m. - Fellowship Time; No Church School

10:00 a.m. - OnPoint@1704 Worship (Pickard)

Christmas Eve

3:00 p.m. - Bell Service (Sanctuary)

4:00 p.m. - Bell Service (Sanctuary)

5:30 p.m. - Candlelight Worship (Sanctuary)

7:00 p.m. - OnPoint House Band Warm Up (K100)

8:00 p.m. - Candlelight Worship OnPoint@1704 (Pickard)

11:00 p.m. - Candlelight Worship (Sanctuary)

Monday, December 25 (Ps. 98; Micah 4:1-5, 5:2-4; 1 John 4:7-16; John 3:31-36)

Offices and Church Buildings Closed - Holiday

Tuesday, December 26 (Ps. 119:1-24; Wisd. of Sol. 4:7-15; Acts 6:1-7, 7:59-8:8)

Offices and Church Buildings Closed - Holiday

Wednesday, December 27 (Ps. 19; Prov. 8:22-30; 1 John 5:1-12; John 13:20-35)

8:00 p.m. - Al-Anon (C100)

Thursday, December 28 (Ps. 110; Isa. 49:13-23, 54:1-13; Matt. 18:1-14)

8:00 a.m. - Labyrinth Open for Walking (Chapel)

12:30 p.m. - Praying Our Church Into Its Future (Chapel)

1:00 p.m. - Labyrinth Open for Walking (Chapel)

Friday, December 29 (Ps. 132; 2 Sam. 23:13-17b; 2 John 1-13; John 2:1-11)

8:00 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous (C100)

Saturday, December 30 (Ps. 89:1-18; 1 Kings 17:17-24; 3 John 1-15; John 4:46-54)

C=Calvin Building

K=Knox Building

L=Luther Building

W=Witherspoon Building

S=Sanctuary Annex (Jane Bell Gathering

Space, choir rooms, sanctuary, nurseries)

Christmas Eve Worship Schedule

Morning Worship

8:30 a.m.: Sanctuary; live-streamed

9:30 a.m.: Church-wide Fellowship - No Church School

10:00 a.m.: OnPoint@1704, Pickard Hall

Note: There will be no 11:00 a.m. service.

Bell Services

3:00 & 4:00 p.m.: Sanctuary; live-streamed

Candlelight Lessons & Carols

5:30 & 11:00 p.m.: Sanctuary; live-streamed

8:00 p.m.: OnPoint@1704, Pickard Hall